Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Quarters

Name: Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Quarters
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 chicken leg quarters, bone-in, skin-on.; 1 teaspoon paprika; 1 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 teaspoon onion powder; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard; 1 teaspoon olive oil

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Air fryer roasted chicken leg quarters that are seasoned and cooked to absolute perfection. No breading required. Ready in under 30 minutes.

Recipe for air fryer chicken leg quarters

Tasty and Inexpensive

Chicken leg quarters are my favorite part of the chicken. This combination of thighs and drumsticks are the tastiest and juiciest parts of the chicken. They’re also usually the most affordable cuts. Chicken breasts get a lot of attention for being white meat, and chicken wings get all the spicy party platter attention. Chicken quarters also are one less cut the butcher needs to make. It’s not uncommon to find a package of 4 chicken quarters for just a few dollars.

Crispy and Roasted to Perfection

Air fryers do so much more than just substitute the oil frying method. They are like little convection ovens that move hot air rapidly around the food being cooked. This is perfect for chicken! We get nice and crispy skin, and the meat is so unbelievably tender and juicy. You won’t believe it.

Easy Seasonings

We’ll season our roast chicken quarters with just a few simple seasonings which you probably already have in the pantry.

Salt and pepper
Paprika
Onion powder and garlic powder
Ground mustard

This simple seasoning mix will give the chicken that savory taste you know and love.

Easy Prep

I love being able to whip up a quick dinner and that’s why I love this recipe so much. We pat dry the chicken quarters and place them in a large zip-top bag with just a bit of olive oil. Then we add our seasoning mix and shake it up to get the chicken all nice and coated. You can even do this ahead of time and let the chicken marinade in the seasoning.

Air Fry at 380° for 20-25 Minutes

Cooking the chicken quarters is super simple. Spray a little non-stick cooking spray in your air fryer basket or tray (middle position for tray style air fryers), place the chicken in and set to air fryer at 380°(F) for 20-25 minutes, or an internal temperature of 165°F – 185°F, flipping hallway through cooking time.

Cook to internal temp of 165°F – 185°F

One of the great things about dark chicken meat is that you can overcook it. And actually, it’s a good thing to overcook it a bit! You see, when the internal temps start reaching about 180°F, there’s additional collagen breakdown, making the chicken even more juicy and tender.

Be sure to start with the skin side down, then flip so the skin is up for the final half of the cooking process. That will make the skin nice and golden crispy.

Let rest and serve

When the chicken is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it rest for at least 5 minutes before serving. When you let chicken rest after cooking, it allows the juices to settle back throughout the meat. Cutting into it too soon causes those juices to run out, making the chicken drier. So, resting it ensures each bite is juicier.

Storage and Reheating

To store cooked air fryer chicken quarters, let them cool and then place in air-tight containers in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To reheat, place in the air fryer at 350°F for about 10 minutes or until heated to 165°F internal temperature.

A plate of air fryer chicken leg quarters served with fresh salad.

Frequently asked questions

Can this recipe be doubled?

It can, as long as everything fits comfortably in your air fryer. We do not want to stack the chicken and we also want some space between each piece.

I’m not getting crispy skin. What did I do wrong?

Patting the chicken dry with paper towels is essential for getting crispy skin. Make sure to do so prior to adding the oil and spices. Also, larger oven-style air fryers can take a little longer to cook. Make sure to always check the internal temp of the meat for best results.

Is this recipe spicy?

Not at all. But, if you want a little zing, you can add about ¼tsp cayenne for a touch of heat.

You might also like…

We have several other great air fryer chicken recipes you’ll love!

Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Wings: Perfect for parties, watching the game, or anytime you want some unbelievably tasty chicken wings!

Best Damn Air Fryer Chicken Legs: With signature dry rub, these chicken legs are so juicy, tender, and loaded with BBQ flavor.

Best Damn Air Fryer Whole Chicken: Wait… really? We can do a whole chicken in an air fryer? You bet we can! And it’s way better than store-bought rotisserie chickens. You gotta try this one!

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